Biomass production

Abstract

A process of growing a phototrophic biomass in a reaction zone, including a reaction mixture that is operative for effecting photosynthesis upon exposure to photosynthetically active light radiation, is provided. The reaction mixture includes phototrophic biomass that is operative for growth within the reaction zone. In one aspect, the carbon dioxide supply is modulated in response to detected process parameters. In another aspect, inputs to the reaction zone are modulated based on changes to the carbon dioxide supply. In another aspect, dilution of the carbon dioxide-comprising supply is effected. In another aspect, pressure of the carbon dioxide-comprising supply is increased. In another aspect, water is condensed from the carbon dioxide-comprising supply and recovered for re-use. In another aspect, the produced phototrophic biomass is harvested at a rate which approximates a predetermined mass growth rate of the phototrophic biomass.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for growing phototrophic biomass in a reaction zone, wherein the phototrophic biomass includes at least one phototrophic organism selected from algae, a plant cell, and a microorganism, wherein the reaction zone includes a reaction mixture that is operative for effecting photosynthesis upon exposure to photosynthetically active light radiation, wherein the reaction mixture includes phototrophic biomass that is operative for growth within the reaction zone, comprising:
 while exposing the reaction mixture disposed in the reaction zone to photosynthetically active light radiation and growth of the phototrophic biomass is being effected within the reaction mixture:
 supplying an aqueous mixture into the reaction zone, with effect that a produced biomass of the phototrophic biomass is discharged by displacement from the reaction zone; 
 
 wherein the growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass within the reaction zone is being effected at a rate that is at least 90% of a maximum rate of growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass within the reaction mixture which is disposed in the reaction zone and is being exposed to the photosynthetically active light radiation. 
 
     
     
       2. The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the effecting of the growth of the phototrophic biomass includes supplying carbon dioxide to the reaction zone and exposing the reaction mixture to photosynthetically active light radiation. 
 
     
     
       3. The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass within the reaction zone is being effected at a rate that is at least 95% of the maximum rate of growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass within the reaction mixture which is disposed in reaction zone and is being exposed to the photosynthetically active light radiation. 
 
     
     
       4. The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass within the reaction zone is being effected at a rate that is at least 99% of the maximum rate of growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass within the reaction mixture which is disposed in reaction zone and is being exposed to the photosynthetically active light radiation. 
 
     
     
       5. The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the discharging of the produced biomass from the reaction zone is effected at a rate that is within 5% of the rate at which the growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass is being effected within the reaction zone. 
 
     
     
       6. The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the discharging of the produced biomass from the reaction zone is effected at a rate that is within 1% of the rate at which the growth of mass of the phototrophic biomass is being effected within the reaction zone. 
 
     
     
       7. The process as claimed in  claim 1 ;
 wherein the reaction zone is disposed within a photobioreactor, and wherein the produced biomass is included in an overflow from the photobioreactor.